CHINESE TROUBLE

Hokitika Guardian, 26 January 1927, Page 3

CHINESE TROUBLE

[Australia «& N.Z. Cable Association

AMERICAN ATTITUDE. WASHINGTON, January 25.

Preparations for the defence of Jin' tisih interests in China, apparently wil . not be followed at present by an exlen sive concentration of United State: forces in the Orient. President Cool idge sees a wide difference between British and American problems, since United States does not possess concessions. UNCONFIRMED. (Received this dav at 11.0 a.tri.) LONDON. Jan. 25. It is learned from a well informed . source that hitherto no offer had been made by the Austndian or New Zcav land Governments to send troops to V, China, as suggested in a message from \Peking. In tho absence of eonfinnaftion from Australia and New Zealand and in view of tho fact that both Mr Bruce and Mr Coates are now on their way home, and such decisions could s bo taken in their absence, there is little disposition to credit such reports.

. DISQUIETING REPORTS. PREPARATIONS CONTINUK. SHANGHAI. Jan. 25. (Received this day at 11 0 a.tnj Grandiloquent declarations such as .Ittigcne Chen’s ultimatum to Britain always appeal to tlie Chinese mentality and repercussions are already noted. Ningpo, a missionary centre distant from Shanghai by nil overnight steamship journey is being evacuated by tho British authorities.

Sun Chuanfang, Shanghai’s anti-Rcd military governor continues to suffer reverses and the-Cantonese to advance on Shanghai.

Miles Llrtnipson, the British Minister at Peking, declares a conflict la* tween the troops of the Powers and Cantonese is unavoidable, if the safety of Shanghai is threatened. An agreement has been reached between Britain, France, Japan and America to land forces whenever ue- } cessary in proportion to tho national interests.

One hundred Anupinites arrived from Indo-Cliina to reinforce the French concession police. Others are on route..

Priests arriving from the interior say they were forced to shave their beards and adopt coolie disguise, ill order to escape the wrath of mobs bent on their murder. Tho British Government is comnundeering British trans-Pacifie liners ami freighters to transport troops to Shnnghai from Hongkong and elsewhere. It is feared an attempt will he lril.ide by the Cantonese to seize Shanghai before the arrival! of the British contingent from India and England, unless Sunchuanfang is able to hold the -.advance for another week.

NO OFFER OF FORCES

SYDNEY. Jan. 25. Hon. Mr Marr. Acting-Minister of Defence, stated that there is no truth in tho rumour that Australia, is offering either troops or naval units lev service in China. < MELBOURNE, Jan. 25. Senator Pearce (Vice-President of tho Federal Executive Council) states that no offer of assistance in the event of hostilities in China has been made by tho Commonwealth Government. ADELAIDE. Jan. 25. Dr Earl Pago (Acting Federal ; Primo Minister) declined either to coiifirm or to deny the. rumour regarding Dominion troops an cruisers being olferecl for Chiifa. Ho added that this matter would be discussed by the Federal Cabinet in Melbourne to-morrow.

ARMY FOR SHANGHAI. LONDON. Jan. 25

Tho British forces in the Yangtze region, or under orders to proceed to tho Far East, now number more than ten thousand men, thus making the defenco force, with the naval units, sixteen thousand men. LONDON, Jan. 21.

General Duncan said that ho expected to arrive at Shanghai two da} s after, the brigade going from India arrives there, namely, oil March -b. It is not expected that the Cantonese will bo there first.

AIR FORCE GOING. LONDON. Jan. 20. Thirty officers and men of the Royal Air Force are sailing with the mailnes in the liner ‘‘.Minnesota this a Dunoon. Their six aeroplanes will follou in another vessel. . . • Two detachments of tlie Ro>a A Force from Gosport and lvuaiboiough will (accompany the marines abouid tl e Minnesota, which is embarking at Portsmouth to-morrow.

LABOR DECISION. SYDNEY, Jan. 26. The monthly stop work meeting of the Svdney Branch of the Seamens Union decided there, can lie no di.oct action against tho steamer on which the industrial mission sail for America. Walsh stated after the meeting that, it could not see any vital principle of the labour movement at stake.

BRITISH OFFICIAL NEWS. LONDON, Jan. 25. Information received in British official circles indicates the reported defeat of Sunchuanfang was only an unimportant skirmish. Serious fighting is not expected until Cantonese reach Cluineliow. There is no likelihood of their erjaeliing '•Shanghai for some weeks. In the meantime it is -pointed out that negotiations at Hangkow and Pekin are proceeding “amicably” and may result at least in a- ‘ modus vivendi.’’ It is again emphasised that Britain has no intention of intervening in the civil war in China. Only if British lives arc endangered will British troops take action. The Cantonese entry into Shanghai will not be resisted, but at the same time the Government is faced with the possibility of serious mob disorders, if and when Cantonese approach the. foreign sett,lenient. This is why adequate precautions are being taken.

POSITION AT SHANGHAI. SHANGHAI, Jan. 25

Though tho Cantonese do not yet seriously threaten Shanghai, women are preparing to leave and valuables are being stored preparatory to their shipment homeward. The vaults of the principle banks are full of valuables. The authorities are taking precautions against possible riots following strikes.

VICEROY'S ATTITUDE. DELHI, January 25. The Viceroy disallowed a motion moved in the Legislative Assembly to protest agaipst the action of the Government of India in sending a brigade to China, on the ground that the discussion is against public interest. The Indian press on the whole, with the exception of forward Sunrajist journals in Calcutta received the intimation of the sending of troops with comparative restraint. NAVAL AVI RIS LESS. (Received this day at 12.25 p.m.) SHANGHAI, January 25. A naval wireless states four thousand Chinese troops crossed the river at Shnsi. Ten thousand remain at Sliasi. A British armed guard was placed at the railway tunnels at Nanking and Shanghai.

AMERICAN ATTITUDE. WASHINGTON, January 25.

American politienns show every sign of wishing to get into a position to negotiate separately from others powers with China. The disposition everywhere is to believe the Chinese trouble is caused by unequal treaties imposed by European powers upon China. Porter (Chairman of the For-